Flight attendants play a vital role in ensuring passenger safety and comfort during air travel. Their duties include greeting passengers as they board the aircraft, demonstrating safety procedures, serving meals and drinks, and responding to any in-flight emergencies. The job requires excellent customer service skills, patience, and the ability to work well under pressure. As such, airlines aim to recruit the most capable candidates by offering attractive compensation packages.
But which airlines offer the highest salaries for flight attendants? This article will compare the typical earnings at major US airlines to determine which carrier pays its cabin crew the most generous wages.
Base Salary
A flight attendant’s base salary provides their minimum guaranteed annual pay before bonuses, allowances and other additional payments. Airlines set base salaries based on the flight attendant’s experience and role. Here is a comparison of published base salaries at selected US airlines:
| Airline | Base Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | $35,000 – $50,000 |
| United Airlines | $32,000 – $61,000 |
| American Airlines | $31,200 – $51,500 |
| Alaska Airlines | $23,000 – $49,000 |
| JetBlue | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| Southwest Airlines | $28,428 – $58,583 |
From the base salary ranges, it appears Delta Air Lines offers the highest potential base wage to its flight attendants. A senior flight attendant at Delta can earn up to $50,000 in base salary alone. Southwest Airlines comes second, with maximum base salaries reaching $58,583 for very experienced cabin crew.
Flight Hours and Per Diem
In addition to base salary, flight attendants earn extra pay for every hour spent in the air. The hourly flight pay allows attendants to significantly increase their earnings as they take on more flight hours.
Most airlines pay between $2-$3 per flight hour. For example, a flight attendant with 80 hours of flight time in a month could expect to earn an additional $240-$480 for the hours flown. Per diem meal and lodging allowances also contribute to a flight attendant’s pay package.
So flight attendants willing to work longer duty periods and flexible schedules can drastically boost their yearly compensation. In a typical year, a very active flight attendant at a major airline can log over 1,000 flight hours. At $2 per flight hour, that equates to $24,000 annually in flight hour pay.
Average Annual Earnings
Adding base salary, flight hours and other allowances provides a better picture of total annual flight attendant compensation at major airlines. Here are the average yearly earnings reported at some leading carriers:
| Airline | Average Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | $74,134 |
| Alaska Airlines | $63,130 |
| American Airlines | $56,000 |
| United Airlines | $55,551 |
| Southwest Airlines | $54,210 |
| JetBlue | $49,190 |
With average yearly compensation of $74,134, Delta Air Lines flight attendants earn the highest pay among the major airlines. Even the lowest earning Delta flight attendants can make around $60,000 per year with a moderate schedule.
Flight attendant pay at Alaska Airlines ranks second, with average annual earnings of $63,130. The combination of Alaska’s base salaries and West Coast route network helps push flight attendant incomes higher.
At the other end, JetBlue flight attendants have the lowest average annual compensation of $49,190. However, JetBlue attendants recently negotiated improved pay rates after forming a union in 2018.
International Airline Salaries
For flight attendants willing to work overseas, several Middle Eastern and Asian airlines offer very attractive tax-free salaries. Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines boast some of the highest flight attendant salaries globally.
A few examples of total annual earnings at international carriers:
- Emirates – $76,000
- Etihad Airways – $69,000
- Qatar Airways – $65,000
- Singapore Airlines – $42,000
These airlines provide base salaries, generous hourly flight pay, free accommodations, and other benefits. However, the downside is flight attendants are based overseas and work longer multi-day trips.
Factors Affecting Salary
Several factors account for the wide pay ranges among flight attendants at different airlines:
Union contracts
Flight attendant unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with airlines that determine base wages, raises, flight pay and benefits. Unionized carriers like Delta, United and American therefore pay higher rates.
Seniority
Flight attendants see regular salary increases over their first 5-10 years before pay plateaus. Senior attendants at an airline earn far more than entry-level hires.
Route network
Airlines like Delta and Alaska with extensive domestic and international route networks offer attendants more opportunities to earn flight hours.
Long-haul flying
Overseas airlines pay more partly because flight attendants are away longer on multi-day trips spanning thousands of miles.
Cost of living
Base salaries are higher for airlines centered in areas with higher living costs like Alaska, Delta and United.
Conclusion
In summary, Delta Air Lines currently provides the highest salary potential for flight attendants among major U.S. airlines. A combination of strong union pay rates, extensive flying opportunities, and generous benefits allow Delta flight attendants to earn upwards of $70,000 per year.
For flight attendants seeking tax-free pay overseas, carriers like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar offer annual earnings exceeding $65,000. However, attendants must be comfortable being based internationally and working very long-haul routes.
While flight attendant salaries vary widely, those willing to work flexible hours, long trips, and choose airlines strategically can maximize their earning potential in this exciting aviation career.